The ancient Indian Aryan society was classified into four varṇa(s) (varna)– Brāhmaṇa (Brahmana), Kṣatriya(Kshatriya), Vaiśya(Vaisya), Śūdra(Sudra). In Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana) it is said, the inhabitants of the mythical Śālmalīdvīpa (Salmalidwipa; the Salmali island)were classified into four varṇa(s) like this. The varṇa similar to the Kṣatriya varṇa was known as Aruṇavarṇa.